Overcoming bottlenecks in zero information gain (ZIG) rebuild operations

ABSTRACT

A storage unit (SU) includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed storage network (DSN), a memory that stores operational instructions, and processing circuitry operably coupled to the interface and to the memory. The SU determines to rebuild an encoded data slice (EDS) of a set of EDSs based on a storage error of the EDS and selects combining units to enable rebuilding of the EDS. The SU also selects participating storage units (SUs) that store at least the decode threshold number of EDSs and facilitates establishing pairwise encryption keys between appropriate components. The SU facilitates the combining units and the SU receiving encrypted representations of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs. The SU combines an encrypted combined partial slice and any additional encrypted representation to generate an encrypted rebuilt EDS and decrypts the encrypted rebuilt EDS to generate a rebuilt EDS.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120, as a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 15/837,455, entitled “TEMPORARILY STORING DROPPED AND REBUILT SLICES IN A DSN MEMORY,” filed Dec. 11, 2017, pending, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120, as a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 15/642,875, entitled “PRIORITIZED DATA REBUILDING IN A DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK,” filed Jul. 6, 2017, pending, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120, as a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 14/869,240, entitled “COORDINATING STORAGE OF DATA IN DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORKS,” filed Sep. 29, 2015, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,727,275 on Aug. 8, 2017, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/086,542, entitled “CONSISTENT STORAGE OF DATA IN A DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK,” filed Dec. 2, 2014, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to computer networks and more particularly to dispersing error encoded data.

Description of Related Art

Computing devices are known to communicate data, process data, and/or store data. Such computing devices range from wireless smart phones, laptops, tablets, personal computers (PC), work stations, and video game devices, to data centers that support millions of web searches, stock trades, or on-line purchases every day. In general, a computing device includes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory system, user input/output interfaces, peripheral device interfaces, and an interconnecting bus structure.

As is further known, a computer may effectively extend its CPU by using “cloud computing” to perform one or more computing functions (e.g., a service, an application, an algorithm, an arithmetic logic function, etc.) on behalf of the computer. Further, for large services, applications, and/or functions, cloud computing may be performed by multiple cloud computing resources in a distributed manner to improve the response time for completion of the service, application, and/or function. For example, Hadoop is an open source software framework that supports distributed applications enabling application execution by thousands of computers.

In addition to cloud computing, a computer may use “cloud storage” as part of its memory system. As is known, cloud storage enables a user, via its computer, to store files, applications, etc. on an Internet storage system. The Internet storage system may include a RAID (redundant array of independent disks) system and/or a dispersed storage system that uses an error correction scheme to encode data for storage.

Data storage errors may occur for a variety of reasons in prior art data storage systems. Communications within prior art data storage systems can become bottlenecked and be adversely affected for a variety of reasons. The prior art does not provide adequate solutions by which such bottlenecks and/or other choke points in prior art data storage systems can be adequately handled to provide for improved overall system performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing core in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storage error encoding of data in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a generic example of an error encoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a specific example of an error encoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a slice name of an encoded data slice (EDS) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storage error decoding of data in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a generic example of an error decoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of rebuilding data in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method for execution by one or more storage units (SUs) in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed, or distributed, storage network (DSN) 10 that includes a plurality of computing devices 12-16, a managing unit 18, an integrity processing unit 20, and a DSN memory 22. The components of the DSN 10 are coupled to a network 24, which may include one or more wireless and/or wire lined communication systems; one or more non-public intranet systems and/or public internet systems; and/or one or more local area networks (LAN) and/or wide area networks (WAN).

The DSN memory 22 includes a plurality of storage units 36 that may be located at geographically different sites (e.g., one in Chicago, one in Milwaukee, etc.), at a common site, or a combination thereof. For example, if the DSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, each storage unit is located at a different site. As another example, if the DSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, all eight storage units are located at the same site. As yet another example, if the DSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, a first pair of storage units are at a first common site, a second pair of storage units are at a second common site, a third pair of storage units are at a third common site, and a fourth pair of storage units are at a fourth common site. Note that a DSN memory 22 may include more or less than eight storage units 36. Further note that each storage unit 36 includes a computing core (as shown in FIG. 2, or components thereof) and a plurality of memory devices for storing dispersed error encoded data.

Each of the computing devices 12-16, the managing unit 18, and the integrity processing unit 20 include a computing core 26, which includes network interfaces 30-33. Computing devices 12-16 may each be a portable computing device and/or a fixed computing device. A portable computing device may be a social networking device, a gaming device, a cell phone, a smart phone, a digital assistant, a digital music player, a digital video player, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet, a video game controller, and/or any other portable device that includes a computing core. A fixed computing device may be a computer (PC), a computer server, a cable set-top box, a satellite receiver, a television set, a printer, a fax machine, home entertainment equipment, a video game console, and/or any type of home or office computing equipment. Note that each of the managing unit 18 and the integrity processing unit 20 may be separate computing devices, may be a common computing device, and/or may be integrated into one or more of the computing devices 12-16 and/or into one or more of the storage units 36.

Each interface 30, 32, and 33 includes software and hardware to support one or more communication links via the network 24 indirectly and/or directly. For example, interface 30 supports a communication link (e.g., wired, wireless, direct, via a LAN, via the network 24, etc.) between computing devices 14 and 16. As another example, interface 32 supports communication links (e.g., a wired connection, a wireless connection, a LAN connection, and/or any other type of connection to/from the network 24) between computing devices 12 & 16 and the DSN memory 22. As yet another example, interface 33 supports a communication link for each of the managing unit 18 and the integrity processing unit 20 to the network 24.

Computing devices 12 and 16 include a dispersed storage (DS) client module 34, which enables the computing device to dispersed storage error encode and decode data as subsequently described with reference to one or more of FIGS. 3-8. In this example embodiment, computing device 16 functions as a dispersed storage processing agent for computing device 14. In this role, computing device 16 dispersed storage error encodes and decodes data on behalf of computing device 14. With the use of dispersed storage error encoding and decoding, the DSN 10 is tolerant of a significant number of storage unit failures (the number of failures is based on parameters of the dispersed storage error encoding function) without loss of data and without the need for a redundant or backup copies of the data. Further, the DSN 10 stores data for an indefinite period of time without data loss and in a secure manner (e.g., the system is very resistant to unauthorized attempts at accessing the data).

In operation, the managing unit 18 performs DS management services. For example, the managing unit 18 establishes distributed data storage parameters (e.g., vault creation, distributed storage parameters, security parameters, billing information, user profile information, etc.) for computing devices 12-14 individually or as part of a group of user devices. As a specific example, the managing unit 18 coordinates creation of a vault (e.g., a virtual memory block associated with a portion of an overall namespace of the DSN) within the DSN memory 22 for a user device, a group of devices, or for public access and establishes per vault dispersed storage (DS) error encoding parameters for a vault. The managing unit 18 facilitates storage of DS error encoding parameters for each vault by updating registry information of the DSN 10, where the registry information may be stored in the DSN memory 22, a computing device 12-16, the managing unit 18, and/or the integrity processing unit 20.

The DSN managing unit 18 creates and stores user profile information (e.g., an access control list (ACL)) in local memory and/or within memory of the DSN module 22. The user profile information includes authentication information, permissions, and/or the security parameters. The security parameters may include encryption/decryption scheme, one or more encryption keys, key generation scheme, and/or data encoding/decoding scheme.

The DSN managing unit 18 creates billing information for a particular user, a user group, a vault access, public vault access, etc. For instance, the DSN managing unit 18 tracks the number of times a user accesses a non-public vault and/or public vaults, which can be used to generate a per-access billing information. In another instance, the DSN managing unit 18 tracks the amount of data stored and/or retrieved by a user device and/or a user group, which can be used to generate a per-data-amount billing information.

As another example, the managing unit 18 performs network operations, network administration, and/or network maintenance. Network operations includes authenticating user data allocation requests (e.g., read and/or write requests), managing creation of vaults, establishing authentication credentials for user devices, adding/deleting components (e.g., user devices, storage units, and/or computing devices with a DS client module 34) to/from the DSN 10, and/or establishing authentication credentials for the storage units 36. Network administration includes monitoring devices and/or units for failures, maintaining vault information, determining device and/or unit activation status, determining device and/or unit loading, and/or determining any other system level operation that affects the performance level of the DSN 10. Network maintenance includes facilitating replacing, upgrading, repairing, and/or expanding a device and/or unit of the DSN 10.

The integrity processing unit 20 performs rebuilding of ‘bad’ or missing encoded data slices. At a high level, the integrity processing unit 20 performs rebuilding by periodically attempting to retrieve/list encoded data slices, and/or slice names of the encoded data slices, from the DSN memory 22. For retrieved encoded slices, they are checked for errors due to data corruption, outdated version, etc. If a slice includes an error, it is flagged as a ‘bad’ slice. For encoded data slices that were not received and/or not listed, they are flagged as missing slices. Bad and/or missing slices are subsequently rebuilt using other retrieved encoded data slices that are deemed to be good slices to produce rebuilt slices. The rebuilt slices are stored in the DSN memory 22.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing core 26 that includes a processing module 50, a memory controller 52, main memory 54, a video graphics processing unit 55, an input/output (IO) controller 56, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) interface 58, an IO interface module 60, at least one IO device interface module 62, a read only memory (ROM) basic input output system (BIOS) 64, and one or more memory interface modules. The one or more memory interface module(s) includes one or more of a universal serial bus (USB) interface module 66, a host bus adapter (HBA) interface module 68, a network interface module 70, a flash interface module 72, a hard drive interface module 74, and a DSN interface module 76.

The DSN interface module 76 functions to mimic a conventional operating system (OS) file system interface (e.g., network file system (NFS), flash file system (FFS), disk file system (DFS), file transfer protocol (FTP), web-based distributed authoring and versioning (WebDAV), etc.) and/or a block memory interface (e.g., small computer system interface (SCSI), internet small computer system interface (iSCSI), etc.). The DSN interface module 76 and/or the network interface module 70 may function as one or more of the interface 30-33 of FIG. 1. Note that the IO device interface module 62 and/or the memory interface modules 66-76 may be collectively or individually referred to as IO ports.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storage error encoding of data. When a computing device 12 or 16 has data to store it disperse storage error encodes the data in accordance with a dispersed storage error encoding process based on dispersed storage error encoding parameters. The dispersed storage error encoding parameters include an encoding function (e.g., information dispersal algorithm, Reed-Solomon, Cauchy Reed-Solomon, systematic encoding, non-systematic encoding, on-line codes, etc.), a data segmenting protocol (e.g., data segment size, fixed, variable, etc.), and per data segment encoding values. The per data segment encoding values include a total, or pillar width, number (T) of encoded data slices per encoding of a data segment i.e., in a set of encoded data slices); a decode threshold number (D) of encoded data slices of a set of encoded data slices that are needed to recover the data segment; a read threshold number (R) of encoded data slices to indicate a number of encoded data slices per set to be read from storage for decoding of the data segment; and/or a write threshold number (W) to indicate a number of encoded data slices per set that must be accurately stored before the encoded data segment is deemed to have been properly stored. The dispersed storage error encoding parameters may further include slicing information (e.g., the number of encoded data slices that will be created for each data segment) and/or slice security information (e.g., per encoded data slice encryption, compression, integrity checksum, etc.).

In the present example, Cauchy Reed-Solomon has been selected as the encoding function (a generic example is shown in FIG. 4 and a specific example is shown in FIG. 5); the data segmenting protocol is to divide the data object into fixed sized data segments; and the per data segment encoding values include: a pillar width of 5, a decode threshold of 3, a read threshold of 4, and a write threshold of 4. In accordance with the data segmenting protocol, the computing device 12 or 16 divides the data (e.g., a file (e.g., text, video, audio, etc.), a data object, or other data arrangement) into a plurality of fixed sized data segments (e.g., 1 through Y of a fixed size in range of Kilo-bytes to Tera-bytes or more). The number of data segments created is dependent of the size of the data and the data segmenting protocol.

The computing device 12 or 16 then disperse storage error encodes a data segment using the selected encoding function (e.g., Cauchy Reed-Solomon) to produce a set of encoded data slices. FIG. 4 illustrates a generic Cauchy Reed-Solomon encoding function, which includes an encoding matrix (EM), a data matrix (DM), and a coded matrix (CM). The size of the encoding matrix (EM) is dependent on the pillar width number (T) and the decode threshold number (D) of selected per data segment encoding values. To produce the data matrix (DM), the data segment is divided into a plurality of data blocks and the data blocks are arranged into D number of rows with Z data blocks per row. Note that Z is a function of the number of data blocks created from the data segment and the decode threshold number (D). The coded matrix is produced by matrix multiplying the data matrix by the encoding matrix.

FIG. 5 illustrates a specific example of Cauchy Reed-Solomon encoding with a pillar number (T) of five and decode threshold number of three. In this example, a first data segment is divided into twelve data blocks (D1-D12). The coded matrix includes five rows of coded data blocks, where the first row of X11-X14 corresponds to a first encoded data slice (EDS 1_1), the second row of X21-X24 corresponds to a second encoded data slice (EDS 2_1), the third row of X31-X34 corresponds to a third encoded data slice (EDS 3_1), the fourth row of X41-X44 corresponds to a fourth encoded data slice (EDS 4_1), and the fifth row of X51-X54 corresponds to a fifth encoded data slice (EDS 5_1). Note that the second number of the EDS designation corresponds to the data segment number.

Returning to the discussion of FIG. 3, the computing device also creates a slice name (SN) for each encoded data slice (EDS) in the set of encoded data slices. A typical format for a slice name 60 is shown in FIG. 6. As shown, the slice name (SN) 60 includes a pillar number of the encoded data slice (e.g., one of 1-T), a data segment number (e.g., one of 1-Y), a vault identifier (ID), a data object identifier (ID), and may further include revision level information of the encoded data slices. The slice name functions as, at least part of, a DSN address for the encoded data slice for storage and retrieval from the DSN memory 22.

As a result of encoding, the computing device 12 or 16 produces a plurality of sets of encoded data slices, which are provided with their respective slice names to the storage units for storage. As shown, the first set of encoded data slices includes EDS 1_1 through EDS 5_1 and the first set of slice names includes SN 1_1 through SN 5_1 and the last set of encoded data slices includes EDS 1_Y through EDS 5_Y and the last set of slice names includes SN 1_Y through SN 5_Y.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storage error decoding of a data object that was dispersed storage error encoded and stored in the example of FIG. 4. In this example, the computing device 12 or 16 retrieves from the storage units at least the decode threshold number of encoded data slices per data segment. As a specific example, the computing device retrieves a read threshold number of encoded data slices.

To recover a data segment from a decode threshold number of encoded data slices, the computing device uses a decoding function as shown in FIG. 8. As shown, the decoding function is essentially an inverse of the encoding function of FIG. 4. The coded matrix includes a decode threshold number of rows (e.g., three in this example) and the decoding matrix in an inversion of the encoding matrix that includes the corresponding rows of the coded matrix. For example, if the coded matrix includes rows 1, 2, and 4, the encoding matrix is reduced to rows 1, 2, and 4, and then inverted to produce the decoding matrix.

In some examples, note that dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) memory includes one or more of a plurality of storage units (SUs) such as SUs 36 (e.g., that may alternatively be referred to a distributed storage and/or task network (DSTN) module that includes a plurality of distributed storage and/or task (DST) execution units 36 that may be located at geographically different sites (e.g., one in Chicago, one in Milwaukee, etc.). Each of the SUs (e.g., alternatively referred to as DST execution units in some examples) is operable to store dispersed error encoded data and/or to execute, in a distributed manner, one or more tasks on data. The tasks may be a simple function (e.g., a mathematical function, a logic function, an identify function, a find function, a search engine function, a replace function, etc.), a complex function (e.g., compression, human and/or computer language translation, text-to-voice conversion, voice-to-text conversion, etc.), multiple simple and/or complex functions, one or more algorithms, one or more applications, etc.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) in accordance with the present invention. This diagram includes a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a dispersed storage network that includes a plurality of sites and the network 24 of FIG. 1. Each site includes a plurality of storage units (SUs). Each storage unit (SU) may be implemented utilizing the SU 36 of FIG. 1.

The DSN functions to store data, where the data is dispersed storage error encoded to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data slices for storage in the SUs and where each set of encoded data slices includes an information dispersal algorithm (IDA) width number of encoded data slices. The storage includes utilizing SUs associated with at least two sites to store a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each set of encoded data slices, where the decode threshold number of encoded data slices are required to recover a corresponding data segment of the data. For example, recovery of one encoded data slice from a corresponding SU at each of 5 of 8 sites is required to recover the data when the set of encoded data slices is stored across 8 sites at one SU per site when the IDA width is 8 and the decode threshold is 5.

The DSN further functions to rebuild stored data when a storage error is detected. At least some of the SUs are operable to perform various functions to facilitate the rebuilding of the store data. The various functions includes one or more of storing encoded data slice, retrieving an encoded data slice, detecting the storage error, generating a partially decoded encoded data slice (e.g., interchangeably referred to as a partial slice), generating one or more pairwise encryption keys, encrypting the partial slice to produce an encrypted partial slice as an encrypted slice representation (e.g., interchangeably referred to as an encrypted partial slice), receiving encrypted partial slices, combining encrypted partial slices to produce further encrypted partial slices, generating an encrypted rebuilt encoded data slice, and decrypting the encrypted rebuilt encoded data slice to produce a rebuilt encoded data slice.

In an example of operation of the rebuilding of the stored data, the SU 1 determines to rebuild an encoded data slice associated with the storage error (e.g., a missing slice or corrupted slice is detected locally by the SU 1), where a data segment was dispersed storage error encoded to produce a set of encoded data slices that includes the encoded data slice. Having determined to rebuild the encoded data slice, the SU 1 executes further functions of a rebuilding unit 910 as described below. Hereafter for this example, the SU 1 reference and the rebuilding unit 910 reference may be utilized interchangeably and/or in some other examples.

Having determined to rebuild the encoded data slice associated with the storage error, the rebuilding unit 910 determines a number of combining units to offload a burden of receiving slice representations to enable the rebuilding of the encoded data slice. The combining units include SUs that are available to perform the receiving partial slices and the combining partial slices functions. The determining may be based on one or more of a number of available SUs at a common site with the rebuilding unit 910, system configuration information, the decode threshold number, and a performance goal. For example, the rebuilding unit 910 determines to utilize three combining units when SUs 2-4 are available to perform combining unit functions.

Having determined the number of combining units, the rebuilding unit 910 selects the combining units in accordance with the number of combining units and based on one or more of SU availability, local network available capacity, wide area network available capacity, and the system configuration. For instance, the rebuilding unit 910 determines to utilize the SUs 2-4 as combining units 1-3 to receive 4 of 5 slice representations when the decode threshold is 5 and the SUs 2-4 are co-located at a common same site with the rebuilding unit 910. Hereafter for this example, SUs 2-4 may be referred to interchangeably as combining units 1-3.

Having selected the combining units, the rebuilding unit 910 selects SUs to participate in the rebuilding as participants, where the participants stored the decode threshold number of encoded data slices. The selecting may be based on one or more of SU availability, a network performance level, interpreting an error message, initiating a query, receiving a query response, and a predetermination. For example, the rebuilding unit 910 selects a SU at each of five sites from sites 2-8 as the participants.

Having selected the participants, the rebuilding unit 910 facilitates establishing pairwise encryption keys between each of the participants and between the rebuilding unit 910 and each of the participants. For example, the rebuilding unit 910 issues encryption key generation instructions to each of the participants, each of the participants negotiate with each other to create a secret encryption key between them (e.g., utilizing Diffie Hellman), and each of the participants stores its pairwise encryption keys.

Having established the pairwise encryption keys, the rebuilding unit 910 facilitates receiving, by the combining units and the rebuilding unit 910, encrypted representations of the decode threshold number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices. Each encrypted representation of an encoded data slice includes a corresponding encrypted partially decoded encoded data slice (e.g., encrypted partial slice) based on the encoded data slice of the participating storage error. For example, the rebuilding unit 910 issues slice representation retrieval requests to the participating SUs of the DSN that stores the decode threshold number of encoded data slices, where the request includes one or more of a slice name of the encoded data slice of the storage error, a slice name of the encoded data slice of the request of slice representation, a partial decoding matrix, an encoding matrix, identifiers of the decode threshold number of encoded data slices, and a destination identifier for the encrypted slice representation (e.g., an identifier for a particular combining unit, an identifier of the rebuilding unit 910). For instance, the rebuilding unit 910 issues, via the network 24, the decode threshold number of slice representation retrieval requests to the participating SUs at 5 other sites.

Each SU receiving a slice representation retrieval request generates a corresponding encrypted slice representation and sends, via the network 24, the encrypted slice representation to at least one of a corresponding combining unit and the rebuilding unit 910 in accordance with an associated destination identifier (e.g., such as encrypted slice representation(s) 920 from site 2, encrypted slice representation(s) 922 from site 2, and so on up to encrypted slice representation(s) 924 from site 8). Alternatively, two SUs at a common site generate two encrypted partial slices, combine the two encrypted partial slices to generate an encrypted common partial slice, and send the encrypted common partial slice to the at least one of the corresponding combining unit and the rebuilding unit 910.

The SU generates each encrypted partial slice based on the request and a locally stored encoded data slice associated with the request. The generating of the encrypted partial slice includes one or more of obtaining an encoding matrix utilized to generate the locally stored encoded data slice (e.g., extract from the request, retrieve from a memory), reducing the encoding matrix to produce a square matrix that exclusively includes rows identified in the request (e.g., slice pillars associated with participating SUs of the decode threshold number of SUs), inverting the square matrix to produce an inverted matrix (e.g., alternatively, may extract the partial decoding matrix from the request as the inverted matrix), matrix multiplying the inverted matrix by the locally stored encoded data slice to produce a vector, matrix multiplying the vector by a row of the encoding matrix corresponding to the encoded data slice to be rebuilt (e.g., alternatively, may extract the row from the request), to produce the partial slice (e.g., encoded data slice to be rebuilt identified in the request), and partial slice with each key and stores associated with the other participating SUs and the rebuilding unit 910 (e.g., performs an exclusive OR logical function on the partial slice, four encryption keys associated with other participating SUs, and the encryption key associated with the rebuilding unit 910).

Each of the combining units combine received encrypted slice representations to produce an encrypted combined partial slice. For example, each combining unit adds the received encrypted partial slices in a field of arithmetic utilized to encode a set of encoded data slices (e.g., exclusive OR logical function) to produce the encrypted combined partial slice. For instance, combining unit 2 performs the exclusive OR logical function on an encrypted partial slice 1 of encrypted slice representation 1 and an encrypted partial slice 2 of encrypted slice representation 2 to produce an encrypted combined partial slice ½, combining unit 3 performs the exclusive OR logical function on an encrypted partial slice 3 of slice representation 3 and an encrypted partial slice 4 of encrypted slice representation 4 to produce an encrypted combined partial slice ¾.

As such, each combining unit receives two slice streams rather than the combining unit receiving five slice streams. The combining units may further operate in a sequential manner to further limit utilized inbound bandwidth utilization. For example, combining unit 1 performs the exclusive OR logical function on the encrypted combined partial slice ½ and the encrypted combine partial slice ¾ to produce an encoded combined partial slice 1-4. Note that improve security is provided as the combining units have no knowledge of the pairwise encryption keys unless a combining unit is also a participating SU.

With the combining units providing at least one encrypted combined partial slice, the rebuilding unit 910 combines all of one or more encrypted combined partial slices from the combining units and any further received encrypted slice representations to produce an encrypted rebuilt encoded data slice. For example, the rebuilding unit 910 performs the exclusive OR logical function on the encrypted combined partial slice 1-4 and an encrypted partial slice 5 of a received encrypted slice representation 5 to produce the encrypted rebuilt encoded data slice when the received encrypted slice representation 5 includes the encrypted partial slice 5.

The rebuilding unit 910 decrypts the encrypted rebuilt encoded data slice to produce the rebuilt encoded data slice. For example, the rebuilding unit 910 adds the encrypted rebuilt encoded data slices and all of the pairwise encryption keys that the rebuilding unit 910 knows that are associated with the participating SUs. For instance, the rebuilding unit 910 performs the exclusive OR logical function on the received encrypted combined partial slices, the received encrypted partial slice, and the five pairwise encryption keys associated with the five participating SUs to produce the rebuilt encoded data slice. The rebuilding unit 910 may subsequently store the rebuilt encoded data slice in the SU 1 to remedy the detected storage error.

In an example of operation and implementation, a storage unit (SU) includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN), a memory that stores operational instructions, and a processing module, processor, and/or processing circuitry operably coupled to the interface and memory. The processing module, processor, and/or processing circuitry is configured to execute the operational instructions to perform various operations, functions, etc. In some examples, the processing module, processor, and/or processing circuitry, when operable within the SU based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations, functions, etc. in certain examples, the processing module, processor, and/or processing circuitry, when operable within the SU is configured to perform one or more functions that may include generation of one or more signals, processing of one or more signals, receiving of one or more signals, transmission of one or more signals, interpreting of one or more signals, etc. and/or any other operations as described herein and/or their equivalents.

In an example of operation and implementation, a SU (e.g., the SU 1, such a rebuilding unit 910) is configured to determine to rebuild an encoded data slice (EDS) of a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) based on a storage error of the EDS. Note that a data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, and a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce the set of EDSs. Note also that a decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment. The SU is also configured to select combining units based on a number of combining units to perform receiving of encrypted slice representations to enable rebuilding of the EDS. The SU is also configured to select participating storage units (SUs) (e.g., SU 5 through SU 8 at site 2, SU 9 through SU 12 at site 3, etc.) within the DSN that store at least the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs.

The SU is also configured to facilitate establishing pairwise encryption keys between each of the participating SUs (e.g., SU 5 through SU 8 at site 2, SU 9 through SU 12 at site 3, etc.) within the DSN and also between the SU (e.g., SU 1) and the each of the participating SUs (e.g., SU 5 through SU 8 at site 2, SU 9 through SU 12 at site 3, etc.).

The SU is also configured to facilitate receiving, by the combining units (e.g., SU 2/combining unit 1, and/or SU 3/combining unit 2, and/or SU 4/combining unit 3) and by the SU (e.g., SU 1), encrypted representations of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs.

The SU is also configured to receive, from a combining unit (e.g., SU 2/combining unit 1) of the combining units, an encrypted combined partial slice that is generated by the combining unit of the combining units based on at least some of the encrypted representations of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs received by the combining unit of the combining units from at least some of the participating SUs within the DSN.

The SU is also configured to combine the encrypted combined partial slice and any additional encrypted representation of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs to generate an encrypted rebuilt EDS and to decrypt the encrypted rebuilt EDS to generate a rebuilt EDS.

In some examples, the SU is also configured to determine the number of combining units to receive the encrypted slice representations to enable rebuilding of the EDS based on a number of available storage units (SUs) at a common site with the DSN, system configuration information of the DSN, the decode threshold number, and/or a performance goal of the DSN.

In some other examples, the SU is also configured to select the combining units based on the number of combining units and also based on storage unit (SU) availability, local network available capacity, wide area network (WAN) available capacity, and/or system configuration of the DSN.

In addition, in certain examples, an encrypted representation of an EDS of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs includes the EDS of the set of EDSs or a corresponding encrypted partially decoded EDS based on the EDS of the set of EDSs based on the storage error of the EDS.

In certain other examples, the SU is also configured to issue slice representation retrieval requests to the combining units that store the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs. Note that a slice representation retrieval request includes an EDS or partial slice indicator, a slice name of the EDS of the set of EDSs based on the storage error of the EDS, a slice name of the EDS of the slice representation retrieval request, a partial decoding matrix, an encoding matrix, identifiers of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs, and/or a destination identifier for an encrypted slice representation associated with the slice representation retrieval request.

Also, in some examples, the encrypted combined partial slice that is generated by the combining unit of the combining units is based on an exclusive OR operation performed by the combining unit of the combining units based on a first encrypted partial slice of a first encrypted slice representation and a second encrypted partial slice of a second encrypted slice representation.

Note that the SU and the combining units may located at a first site (e.g., site 1) that is remotely located from a second site that includes at least one SU of the participating SUs within the DSN (e.g., site 2, site 3, and/or site 8)

In some examples, with respect to a data object, the data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, and a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) (e.g., in some instances, the set of EDSs are distributedly stored in a plurality of storage units (SUs) within the DSN). In some examples, the set of EDSs is of pillar width. Also, with respect to certain implementations, note that the decode threshold number of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment, and a read threshold number of EDSs provides for reconstruction of the data segment. Also, a write threshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of the set of EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second at least one location in the DSN. The set of EDSs is of pillar width and includes a pillar number of EDSs. Also, in some examples, each of the decode threshold, the read threshold, and the write threshold is less than the pillar number. Also, in some particular examples, the write threshold number is greater than or equal to the read threshold number that is greater than or equal to the decode threshold number.

Note that the storage unit (SU) as described herein may be located at a first premises that is remotely located from a second premises associated with at least one other SU, dispersed storage (DS) unit, computing device, at least one SU of a plurality of SUs within the DSN (e.g., such as a plurality of SUs that are implemented to store distributedly a set of EDSs), etc. In addition, note that such a SU as described herein may be implemented as any of a number of different devices including a managing unit that is remotely located from another SU, DS unit, computing device, etc. within the DSN and/or other device within the DSN, an integrity processing unit that is remotely located from another computing device and/or other device within the DSN, a scheduling unit that is remotely located from another computing device and/or SU within the DSN, and/or other device. Also, note that such a SU as described herein may be of any of a variety of types of devices as described herein and/or their equivalents including a DS unit and/or SU included within any group and/or set of DS units and/or SUs within the DSN, a wireless smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a personal computers (PC), a work station, and/or a video game device, and/or any type of computing device or communication device. Also, note also that the DSN may be implemented to include and/or be based on any of a number of different types of communication systems including a wireless communication system, a wire lined communication system, a non-public intranet system, a public internet system, a local area network (LAN), and/or a wide area network (WAN). Also, in some examples, any device configured to support communications within such a DSN may be also be configured to and/or specifically implemented to support communications within a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, a fiber-optic communication system, and/or a mobile communication system (and/or any other type of communication system implemented using any type of communication medium or media).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of rebuilding data in accordance with the present invention. This diagram includes a flowchart illustrating an example of rebuilding data. The method 1000 begins with the steps 1010, 1020, and 1030, respectively, where a processing module of one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN) determines to rebuild an encoded data slice to produce a rebuilt encoded data slice, determines a number of combining units to acquire and combine a decode threshold number of slice representations of the set of encoded data slices, and selects the number of combining units.

The method 1000 continues at the step 1040 where the processing module selects participating storage units (e.g., storage units (SUs), or SU for a singular storage unit (SU)) that store a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of a set of encoded data slice that includes the encoded data slice to be rebuilt. The selecting may be based on one or more of a network performance level, a storage unit performance level, and a network configuration.

The method 1000 continues at the step 1050 where the processing module facilitates establishing pairwise encryption keys between each of the participating storage units and between a rebuilding unit and each participating storage unit. For example, the processing module issues instructions to the participating storage units and each storage unit negotiates (e.g., utilizing a Diffie Hellman approach) with each other storage unit and with the rebuilding unit to generate the pairwise encryption keys for local storage.

The method 1000 continues at the step 1060 where the processing module facilitates receiving, by the selected combining units, at least some of a decode threshold number of encrypted slice representations. For example, the processing module assigns encrypted slice representations to the combining units and issues requests for the encrypted slice representations to the participating storage units. The participating storage units generate the slice representations and send the slice representations to the combining units and/or a rebuilding unit.

The method 1000 continues at the step 1070 where each selected combining unit combines received encrypted slice representations to produce one or more encrypted combined partial slices. For example, when receiving an encrypted partial decoded data slice as the encrypted sliced representation, the combining unit adds the encrypted representations in a field of arithmetic utilized to encode the set of encoded data slices to produce an encrypted combined partial slice and sends the encrypted combined partial slice to another combining unit or to the rebuilding unit.

The method 1000 continues at the step 1080 where the processing module combines a decode threshold number of the one or more combined encrypted partial slices and remaining encrypted slice representations to generate an encrypted rebuilt encoded data slice. For example, the processing module adds (e.g., XOR) all the encrypted partial slices and encrypted combined partial slices in the arithmetic field utilized to produce the set of encoded data slices to produce the encrypted rebuilt encoded data slice.

The method 1000 continues at the step 1090 where the processing module decrypts the encrypted rebuilt encoded data slice to produce the rebuilt encoded data slice. For example, the processing module adds the encrypted rebuilt encoded data slice with all of the keys associated with the rebuilding unit and the participating storage units in the arithmetic field utilized to produce the set of encoded data slices. For instance, the processing module performs and exclusive OR function on the encrypted rebuilt encoded data slice and a decode threshold number of pairwise encryption keys associated with the decode threshold number of participating storage units to produce the rebuilt encoded data slice.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method for execution by one or more storage units (SUs) in accordance with the present invention. The method 1100 operates in step 1110 by determining to rebuild an encoded data slice (EDS) of a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) based on a storage error of the EDS. Note that a data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, and a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce the set of EDSs. Also, a decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment.

The method 1100 then continues in step 1120 by selecting combining units based on a number of combining units to perform receiving of encrypted slice representations to enable rebuilding of the EDS. The method 1100 operates in step 1130 by selecting participating storage units (SUs) within a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) that store at least the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs.

The method 1100 then continues in step 1140 by facilitating establishing pairwise encryption keys between each of the participating SUs within the DSN and also between the SU and the each of the participating SUs. The method 1100 then operates in step 1150 by facilitating receiving (e.g., via an interface of the SU that is configured to interface and communicate with the DSN) by the combining units and by the SU of encrypted representations of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs.

The method 1100 operates in step 1160 by receiving (e.g., via the interface) from a combining unit of the combining units an encrypted combined partial slice that is generated by the combining unit of the combining units based on at least some of the encrypted representations of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs received by the combining unit of the combining units from at least some of the participating SUs within the DSN.

The method 1100 then operates in step 1170 by combining the encrypted combined partial slice and any additional encrypted representation of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs to generate an encrypted rebuilt EDS, and the method 1100 then continues in step 1180 by decrypting the encrypted rebuilt EDS to generate a rebuilt EDS.

This disclosure presents, among other things, various novel solutions that address solutions that operate to overcome bottlenecks in zero information gain (ZIG) rebuild operations. For example, when performing a ZIG rebuild using a star topology, a threshold (K) number of slices must be combined to recover the data. However, this can lead to potential network bottlenecks. For example, up to K times as much data must come in as the rate at which data can be rebuilt. With respect to operations with a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) that operate use ZIG rebuild operations, ZIG rebuilding has the additional constraint that no other entity is privileged or trusted to learn the rebuilt slice. Therefore, using combiners who are other than the entity who needs to be rebuilt would expose the rebuilt slice(s) to the combiner(s). This can be overcome by adapting the protocol in which keys are generated and distributed, and how the partial slices are encrypted by the rebuild participants prior to transmitting them to a combiner. To perform a secure ZIG rebuild that utilizes combiners (e.g., other than the entity being rebuilt) to overcome network bottlenecks, a phase of deriving encryption keys is performed between every rebuild participant, together with the entity being rebuilt.

For example, in a rebuild operation involving a threshold (5) rebuild participants (P1-P5), 2 combiners (C1, C2), and 1 entity being rebuilt (R), the key negotiation is as follows:

1. A unique key is determined between every pairwise combination of participants: (P1, P2), (P1, P3), (P1, P4), (P1, P5), (P2, P3), (P2, P4), (P2, P5), (P3, P4), (P3, P5), (P4, P5)

2. A unique key is determined between R and every participant: (R, P1), (R, P2), (R, P3), (R, P4), (R, P5)

Note that no keys are determined or known by any combiner, unless the combiner happens to be one of the participants or R. In this example, it is assumed that C1 and C2 are distinct from any participant or from R. When a partially computed slice is computed by a rebuild participant, it is encrypted with each of the keys it knows. In this case: 5 keys for each of the other participants, plus the one key it shares with R. It then transmits its slice to the agreed upon combiner (either C1 or C2). The combiner who receives the partials XORs them altogether, which causes all inter-participant keys to cancel, resulting in data that is equivalent to the rebuilt slice encrypted with each of the keys known to R. The combiner then sends this intermediate value to R. R then decrypts it with each of the 5 keys it knows: (R, P1), (R, P2), (R, P3), (R, P4), (R, P5), and the result is the rebuilt slice. Note that defeating the security of this scheme requires either collusion between the combiner and a threshold (5) of the rebuild participants to disclose all of their keys, or it requires compromising R and a combiner. However, in any case where R or a threshold number of rebuild participants are compromised then the slice can be exposed, so the security is in no way weakened by this protocol.

It is noted that terminologies as may be used herein such as bit stream, stream, signal sequence, etc. (or their equivalents) have been used interchangeably to describe digital information whose content corresponds to any of a number of desired types (e.g., data, video, speech, audio, etc. any of which may generally be referred to as ‘data’).

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately” provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding term and/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a few percent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, the term(s) “configured to”, “operably coupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/or indirect coupling between items via an intervening item (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, an element, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for an example of indirect coupling, the intervening item does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As may further be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. As may even further be used herein, the term “configured to”, “operable to”, “coupled to”, or “operably coupled to” indicates that an item includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s), etc., to perform, when activated, one or more its corresponding functions and may further include inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may still further be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes direct and/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item being embedded within another item.

As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1. As may be used herein, the term “compares unfavorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc., fails to provide the desired relationship.

As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module”, “processing circuit”, “processor”, and/or “processing unit” may be a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit may be, or further include, memory and/or an integrated memory element, which may be a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of another processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit includes more than one processing device, the processing devices may be centrally located (e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless bus structure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing via indirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network). Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing the corresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further note that, the memory element may store, and the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit executes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in one or more of the figures. Such a memory device or memory element can be included in an article of manufacture.

One or more embodiments have been described above with the aid of method steps illustrating the performance of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functional building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined herein for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships are appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claims. Further, the boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significant functions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certain significant functionality.

To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certain significant functionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claims. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that the functional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and components herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits, processors executing appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue” indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that the steps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used in conjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates the beginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by other activities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indication reflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/or may be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further, while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, other orderings are likewise possible provided that the principles of causality are maintained.

The one or more embodiments are used herein to illustrate one or more aspects, one or more features, one or more concepts, and/or one or more examples. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, an article of manufacture, a machine, and/or of a process may include one or more of the aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. described with reference to one or more of the embodiments discussed herein. Further, from figure to figure, the embodiments may incorporate the same or similarly named functions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the same or different reference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps, modules, etc. may be the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc. or different ones.

Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/or between elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein may be analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-ended or differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as a single-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path. Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it also represents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particular architectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise be implemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, direct connectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between other elements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.

The term “module” is used in the description of one or more of the embodiments. A module implements one or more functions via a device such as a processor or other processing device or other hardware that may include or operate in association with a memory that stores operational instructions. A module may operate independently and/or in conjunction with software and/or firmware. As also used herein, a module may contain one or more sub-modules, each of which may be one or more modules.

As may further be used herein, a computer readable memory includes one or more memory elements. A memory element may be a separate memory device, multiple memory devices, or a set of memory locations within a memory device. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. The memory device may be in a form a solid state memory, a hard drive memory, cloud memory, thumb drive, server memory, computing device memory, and/or other physical medium for storing digital information.

While particular combinations of various functions and features of the one or more embodiments have been expressly described herein, other combinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. The present disclosure is not limited by the particular examples disclosed herein and expressly incorporates these other combinations. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage unit (SU) comprising: an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN); memory that stores operational instructions; and processing circuitry operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to execute the operational instructions to: determine to rebuild an encoded data slice (EDS) of a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) based on a storage error of the EDS, wherein a data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce the set of EDSs, wherein a decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment; select combining units based on a number of combining units to perform receiving of encrypted slice representations to enable rebuilding of the EDS; select participating storage units (SUs) within the DSN that store at least the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs; facilitate establishing pairwise encryption keys between each of the participating SUs within the DSN and also between the SU and the each of the participating SUs; facilitate receiving, by the combining units and by the SU, encrypted representations of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs; receive, from a combining unit of the combining units, an encrypted combined partial slice that is generated by the combining unit of the combining units based on at least some of the encrypted representations of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs received by the combining unit of the combining units from at least some of the participating SUs within the DSN; combine the encrypted combined partial slice and any additional encrypted representation of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs to generate an encrypted rebuilt EDS; and decrypt the encrypted rebuilt EDS to generate a rebuilt EDS.
 2. The SU of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to execute the operational instructions to: determine the number of combining units to receive the encrypted slice representations to enable rebuilding of the EDS based on at least one of a number of available storage units (SUs) at a common site with the DSN, system configuration information of the DSN, the decode threshold number, or a performance goal of the DSN.
 3. The SU of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to execute the operational instructions to: select the combining units based on the number of combining units and also based on at least one of storage unit (SU) availability, local network available capacity, wide area network (WAN) available capacity, or system configuration of the DSN.
 4. The SU of claim 1, wherein an encrypted representation of an EDS of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs includes the EDS of the set of EDSs or a corresponding encrypted partially decoded EDS based on the EDS of the set of EDSs based on the storage error of the EDS.
 5. The SU of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to execute the operational instructions to: issue slice representation retrieval requests to the combining units that store the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs, where a slice representation retrieval request includes at least one of an EDS or partial slice indicator, a slice name of the EDS of the set of EDSs based on the storage error of the EDS, a slice name of the EDS of the slice representation retrieval request, a partial decoding matrix, an encoding matrix, identifiers of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs, or a destination identifier for an encrypted slice representation associated with the slice representation retrieval request.
 6. The SU of claim 1, wherein the encrypted combined partial slice that is generated by the combining unit of the combining units is based on an exclusive OR operation performed by the combining unit of the combining units based on a first encrypted partial slice of a first encrypted slice representation and a second encrypted partial slice of a second encrypted slice representation.
 7. The SU of claim 1, wherein the SU and the combining units are located at a first site that is remotely located from a second site that includes at least one SU of the participating SUs within the DSN.
 8. The SU of claim 1, wherein the DSN includes at least one of a wireless communication system, a wire lined communication system, a non-public intranet system, a public internet system, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).
 9. A storage unit (SU) comprising: an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN); memory that stores operational instructions; and processing circuitry operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to execute the operational instructions to: determine to rebuild an encoded data slice (EDS) of a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) based on a storage error of the EDS, wherein a data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce the set of EDSs, wherein a decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment; select combining units based on a number of combining units to perform receiving of encrypted slice representations to enable rebuilding of the EDS and also based on at least one of storage unit (SU) availability, local network available capacity, wide area network (WAN) available capacity, or system configuration of the DSN; select participating storage units (SUs) within the DSN that store at least the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs; facilitate establishing pairwise encryption keys between each of the participating SUs within the DSN and also between the SU and the each of the participating SUs; facilitate receiving, by the combining units and by the SU, the encrypted representations of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs, wherein an encrypted representation of an EDS of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs includes the EDS of the set of EDSs or a corresponding encrypted partially decoded EDS based on the EDS of the set of EDSs based on the storage error of the EDS; receive, from a combining unit of the combining units, an encrypted combined partial slice that is generated by the combining unit of the combining units based on at least some of the encrypted representations of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs received by the combining unit of the combining units from at least some of the participating SUs within the DSN; combine the encrypted combined partial slice and any additional encrypted representation of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs to generate an encrypted rebuilt EDS; and decrypt the encrypted rebuilt EDS to generate a rebuilt EDS.
 10. The SU of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to execute the operational instructions to: determine the number of combining units to receive the encrypted slice representations to enable rebuilding of the EDS based on at least one of a number of available storage units (SUs) at a common site with the DSN, system configuration information of the DSN, the decode threshold number, or a performance goal of the DSN.
 11. The SU of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to execute the operational instructions to: issue slice representation retrieval requests to the combining units that store the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs, where a slice representation retrieval request includes at least one of an EDS or partial slice indicator, a slice name of the EDS of the set of EDSs based on the storage error of the EDS, a slice name of the EDS of the slice representation retrieval request, a partial decoding matrix, an encoding matrix, identifiers of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs, or a destination identifier for an encrypted slice representation associated with the slice representation retrieval request.
 12. The SU of claim 9, wherein the encrypted combined partial slice that is generated by the combining unit of the combining units is based on an exclusive OR operation performed by the combining unit of the combining units based on a first encrypted partial slice of a first encrypted slice representation and a second encrypted partial slice of a second encrypted slice representation.
 13. The SU of claim 9, wherein the DSN includes at least one of a wireless communication system, a wire lined communication system, a non-public intranet system, a public internet system, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).
 14. A method for execution by a storage unit (SU), the method comprising: determining to rebuild an encoded data slice (EDS) of a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) based on a storage error of the EDS, wherein a data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce the set of EDSs, wherein a decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment; selecting combining units based on a number of combining units to perform receiving of encrypted slice representations to enable rebuilding of the EDS; selecting participating storage units (SUs) within a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) that store at least the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs; facilitating establishing pairwise encryption keys between each of the participating SUs within the DSN and also between the SU and the each of the participating SUs; facilitating receiving, via an interface of the SU that is configured to interface and communicate with the DSN and by the combining units and by the SU, encrypted representations of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs; receiving, via the interface and from a combining unit of the combining units, an encrypted combined partial slice that is generated by the combining unit of the combining units based on at least some of the encrypted representations of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs received by the combining unit of the combining units from at least some of the participating SUs within the DSN; combining the encrypted combined partial slice and any additional encrypted representation of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs to generate an encrypted rebuilt EDS; and decrypting the encrypted rebuilt EDS to generate a rebuilt EDS.
 15. The method of claim 14 further comprising: determining the number of combining units to receive the encrypted slice representations to enable rebuilding of the EDS based on at least one of a number of available storage units (SUs) at a common site with the DSN, system configuration information of the DSN, the decode threshold number, or a performance goal of the DSN.
 16. The method of claim 14 further comprising: selecting the combining units based on the number of combining units and also based on at least one of storage unit (SU) availability, local network available capacity, wide area network (WAN) available capacity, or system configuration of the DSN.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein an encrypted representation of an EDS of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs includes the EDS of the set of EDSs or a corresponding encrypted partially decoded EDS based on the EDS of the set of EDSs based on the storage error of the EDS.
 18. The method of claim 14 further comprising: issuing slice representation retrieval requests to the combining units that store the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs, where a slice representation retrieval request includes at least one of an EDS or partial slice indicator, a slice name of the EDS of the set of EDSs based on the storage error of the EDS, a slice name of the EDS of the slice representation retrieval request, a partial decoding matrix, an encoding matrix, identifiers of the decode threshold number of EDSs of the set of EDSs, or a destination identifier for an encrypted slice representation associated with the slice representation retrieval request.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein the encrypted combined partial slice that is generated by the combining unit of the combining units is based on an exclusive OR operation performed by the combining unit of the combining units based on a first encrypted partial slice of a first encrypted slice representation and a second encrypted partial slice of a second encrypted slice representation.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the DSN includes at least one of a wireless communication system, a wire lined communication system, a non-public intranet system, a public internet system, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN). 